First off, let me tell you: these guys can still rock! Three original members, Sam Andrew (guitars, vocals and head-dude-in-charge), Peter Albin (bass and vocals) and Dave Getz (drums and vocals), have been joined by a great new guitarist named Tom Finch. At first I was a bit nervous: could I do justice to the songs made famous by Big Brother and Janis Joplin? How would I stack up to these living legends rocking out right next to me (and in Dave's case, behind me)? Answer: it was a mutual love fest.
How did this come to be? Well, it all started back about a month ago. I had been in contact with Big Brother through various people, including promoter Ron Delsener, who thought we could make beautiful music together. Thing was, Big Brother already had a wonderful singer named Lisa Battle. Now, I've never met Lisa, but I have heard her on live recordings and on Big Brother's new CD "Do What You Love" and she is fabulous. So, time went on...then I got a phone call from one of Big Brother's managers telling me that the band had an East Coast tour coming up and Lisa had left the band to do her thing with her own band. Would I be into filling in? Would I! Sam, Peter, Dave and Tom had the final word, though. They had been listening to "Sugar Free" and liked it and finally decided to have me come on board!
The guys learned three of my songs: "Anthropologist", "Animal" and "I'll Light Myself On Fire" (which they alternately titled "Gasoline") and I of course learned many of their big hits like "Piece of My Heart", "Ball and Chain", "Combination of the Two", and a bunch of their great new tunes. We had NO REHEARSAL, by the way - all of this song-learning occurred via recordings!
I had family and friends along the way, especially loving hubby and bassist Jon Sobel (who got to sit in, playing Peter Albin's funky hand-crafted bass in Norfolk, VA and other tour sites). My incredible parents came to three shows: Providence, Boston and Atlantic City (they had a great time playing a few slots and hanging out in my huge suite at the Trump Taj Majal!) and palled around with the band like old friends. Tom's wife Maya came all the way from California to visit and, let me tell you, it was nice having another female around! My sister Karen, who is credited with bringing Janis Joplin into my life by playing "Cheap Thrills" in our house 24/7 when I was just a wee thing, also came up to Boston and brought some pals out to see us. Without Karen, this all might never have come to pass!
The rigors of the road never slowed the guys down: We'd drive all day, playing funny word games in the car, eat nasty road food and catch some TV and a quick nap in the motel, then rock the night away. Some interesting highlights:
I got asked out by the drummer from our opening band in Rochester. He was a cutie and kept trying to tempt me by telling me he had just bought a new truck. Sorry!
Fans at various shows came up to me in tears and told me how much Janis had meant to them.
A young girl in Schenectady gave me a bead necklace, which I am wearing right now.
A too-enthusiastic fan at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City was escorted out of the club and onto the boardwalk.
I got a big bear hug from legendary rock and jazz drummer Bernard Purdy at The Schoolhouse in Croton Falls, NY. The Schoolhouse is a great haven for the arts in Westchester and I encourage all to check out their schedule of events.
Our last gig on the tour was Mexicali Blues in Teaneck, NJ. After eating wonderful food and rocking hard, we said our fond farewells and Big Brother rode off into the sunset... except for Sam, who is gigging down in Florida and Georgia and will come back to NYC to play with Moby Grape at Wetlands... check him out if you're in the nabe!
All in all, it was a great time and Big Brother could not have been sweeter, nicer or more fun to play with. A big thanks to them, and to Catherine Cavaliere and Carl Peachman who made me feel loved and welcome and made it all good. Also thanks to the friends around the country who came out to see me when they heard I was coming to their respective cities: James, Steve and Lisa, Mindy and Jacques, Brooke and Michael, Rob, Tricia, Russell and Rebecca, Kate and John, Chris, Deirdre and Martin, and all the new friends and fans I met along the way. (And thanks to everyone who bought my CD!)
For more information on Big Brother and the Holding Company, check out their website.
Until next time!
Halley
3 November 1998
UPDATE - SUMMER 1999
Halley reunited with Big Brother at the Starwood Festival in Upstate New York.
